COVID-19 Campus Resources

Throughout the semester:

• Stay home if sick or having symptoms of COVID-19. Students or faculty who believe they may have had close contact with someone who is ill with COVID, or are exhibiting symptoms themselves, should complete the Health Screener AND seek advice from the Wellness Center on next steps.
• Get vaccinated against COVID-19. Report any new vaccinations including boosters on the Vaccination Portal. Refer to the Vaccination guidelines and FAQs for full details on the vaccination policy including the process to request a medical or religious accommodation.
• Test routinely to stay in the know. Whether through a local provider or taking part in Converse’s on-campus offerings, routine testing continues to remain an important way of understanding your health status. Results should be submitted to the Proof of Test portal.
• Wear a mask in certain areas of campus. Converse is mask optional in most on-campus, indoor settings, including within instructional spaces. Some exclusions still apply. Anyone who would like to continue wearing masks in any setting is welcome to do so. Converse is a community that welcomes diversity of beliefs, and individuals should not be questioned about their decision to wear a mask nor discouraged or prohibited from wearing them.Masks will still be required:
  • In healthcare facilities including the Wellness Center and testing/vaccination sites;
  • When students and employees are following Wellness Center protocols;
  • At some university events. Event organizers are responsible for communicating if an event requires masks of its guests.
• Residential students are required to have an isolation and quarantine plan in place. All residential students must complete and submit an isolation and quarantine plan to my.converse.edu. Converse does not offer on-campus isolation housing. Should the need to isolate or quarantine arise, the Wellness Center and our Residential Life team have pulled together some additional guidelines and resources to aid in that process.

On-Campus Vaccination Clinics

Converse will be hosting onsite free vaccination clinics. Check the Testing and Vaccination Schedule for dates and details.

Even if you have received the COVID-19 vaccine, Converse continues to encourage you to continue routine testing, as more is monitored and understood about the vaccine’s ability to stop the spread of the virus. Continued adherence to the other campus-wide COVID protocols is also required at this time even if you have had the vaccine.

For additional questions on testing protocols, please contact the Wellness Center at wellnesscenter@converse.edu.

Submit your COVID test results

All results, including negatives, must be entered into the portal via this link within 24 hours of receiving test results.

Converse’s Position on COVID-19 Vaccinations

Converse University requires all students, faculty, staff, and our Board of Trustees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This policy applies to all students, employees, and trustees who attend class, work, or engage in other activities at a Converse facility.

General Information About Testing

Your test results will be highly protected and access will be limited to only essential personnel.

If you are planning to test during work hours, please always consult with your supervisor beforehand. Wait times may vary, so plan accordingly to minimize interruption to your work and school commitments.

If you have questions regarding testing, please refer to this chart.

For additional questions on testing protocols, please contact the Wellness Center at wellnesscenter@converse.edu.

Isolation and Quarantine Guidance

Visit my.converse.edu for specific Converse guidelines for isolation and quarantine due to COVID-19 exposure. Students and employees must follow the university’s isolation and quarantine guidance before returning to in-person university classes, programs and activities.

Students and employees who have questions about isolation or quarantine can contact the Wellness Center.

Personal Safety Practices

Guidance for Masks/Face Coverings:Converse requires all students and employees to wear a face-covering or mask within healthcare facilities and at select campus sponsored events. Face-coverings are not required in other indoor locations but Converse supports individuals who elect to wear a mask in these areas.

Physical Distancing: Keeping space between you and others is one of the best tools we have to avoid being exposed to the COVID-19 virus and slowing its spread. Since people can spread the virus before they know they are sick, it is important to stay at a safe distance from others, even when wearing a face covering and even if you have no symptoms. Physical distancing is important for everyone, especially to help protect people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Faculty, staff, and students on campus must follow these physical distancing practices:

• Stay at least 6 feet (about arms’ length) from other people at all times
• Do not gather in groups of 12 or more
• Avoid crowded places and mass gatherings

Handwashing: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing, or touching your face. If soap and water is not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol.

Cleaning/Disinfection: Housekeeping teams will clean based on CDC guidelines for disinfection. High touch areas will be cleaned often. Additional cleaning supplies are offered in each classroom for students and faculty to use at their need and discretion.

Health Screener:  Students and employees must monitor their own health on a daily basis prior to leaving their home, and if they have symptoms, they must refrain from coming to campus or classes. This Health Screener is a helpful tool that can be used to conduct this daily assessment and should be completed by each student, faculty, and staff when they have COVID-19 like symptoms or need to report a recent close contact.

Classrooms:  Classroom assignments have been modified whenever possible to allow for social distancing of students.

The health and safety of the Converse community remain our highest priority, and this includes visitors to our campus.

While on campus, all permitted visitors must comply with Converse’s current COVID-19 safety protocols. Certain buildings and areas of campus may have different visitation restrictions so it is important to check with your Converse host for specific instructions pertaining to your visit and to answer any questions you may have.

To ensure a safe environment for our students, employees, and guests, all visitors should be symptom free prior to coming onto campus. Guests should continue to monitor their symptoms and potential close contact each day they are on site. If you are ill or have had a possible recent exposure, guests should notify the Converse host of the reason. We will assist in finding an alternative approach or will reschedule your visit for a later date.

Certain events may require guests to complete the Guest Screening Questionnaire.

Guest Screening Questionnaire

Reminder: Outside guests are not permitted within residential halls.

Students may have visitors for certain Converse Activity Board (CAB) planned events unless CAB limits the event to students only.

Our campus is a perfect backdrop for engagement, graduation and wedding photos. To minimize campus exposure to COVID-19 we now require anyone wishing to take photos on campus to notify Event Services of the date and time they would like to take photos on our campus. A campus representative will respond to your request within 2-3 business days.

Thank you for your adherence to all health and safety guidelines to keep our Converse community safe.

Outside Guests are not permitted within Residential Halls

Isolation: Resident students requiring isolation will receive communication by the Wellness Center. The university residence halls and apartments are full, with no capacity for on campus isolation and quarantine. Students who are required to isolate due to COVID-19 will be asked to provide their own. Students should contact our Resident Life team for questions and for assistance in developing isolation plans.

Accommodations: Any student requesting accommodations should follow the established request procedure on My.Converse.

Housing Access:  Converse University students may visit other students in residence halls. Students are encouraged to socialize outdoors or in common spaces with guests or friends who are not Converse University students.

Housing Common Areas: Common area spaces in the residence halls like study spaces, lobbies, computer labs, and kitchens are open. All common areas have posted maximum capacity occupation limits.

Students are expected to abide by social distancing protocols when in commons spaces. In an effort to assist students with distancing, we have reduced and rearranged furniture in commons spaces and posted signs with limited capacity requirements. Students should follow posted guidelines that will help identify paths of travel to prevent close interactions and maximum capacity limitations in common spaces.

In residential bathrooms, students should practice physical distancing and follow any additional posted guidelines for use. Common area bathrooms will be cleaned multiple times daily.

Health and Safety Checks: Students are required to clean and disinfect weekly in rooms and shared in-suite spaces. The Residential Life staff will increase the frequency of scheduled room health and safety inspections. Students are advised to discuss and outline expectations for cleaning in roommate/ suite contracts. Inspections will include bathrooms and kitchens in suites and apartments.

Student Support: Our Converse Cares and Student Development teams will be providing support if we receive information that a student is struggling with adjustment to these challenging times. Concerns can be reported at https://converse.formstack.com/forms/converse_cares

Residential Community Health and Safety: Converse has implemented a number of practices to support the health and wellness of residential students. These practices include enhanced cleaning and sanitization, physical distancing guidelines for commons spaces, reduced occupancy of residence halls, and the development of virtual programming models:

• High-touch areas like door handles and elevator buttons will be cleaned throughout the day. Hand sanitizer stations will be posted at all building entrances and exits. Common area and hall bathrooms will be cleaned daily.
• Common area spaces in the residence halls like study spaces and lounges will be open; to encourage physical distancing, furniture may be rearranged in those spaces. Students should follow posted guidelines that will help identify ways to yield to others and outline maximum capacity in each space.

Room Change: In most cases, housing assignments will not be changed during the term. In some rare instances, students who already have a housing assignment for the term may need to move based on their requests for housing accommodations and our ability to fulfill their needs in their currently assigned space. Upon arrival, students with extenuating circumstances may address concerns and requests with their Resident Director or the Director of Residential Life.

Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRSAA) 2020
Converse has received supplemental funds from the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRSSAA). A portion of these funds is being made available to students who have experienced financial hardship and/or an emergency as a result of the pandemic.

Download the 2021 Student Benevolence Fund CRRSAA Relief Emergency Assistance Application here

CARES Act

Converse received funding under the CARES Act to help students whose education has been disrupted by this pandemic. To receive these funds, you must have filed a FAFSA.

Read about how the CARES Act assists Converse students:

Cares Act Consumer Information and Disclosure

The following disclosures are in compliance with Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) reporting as required by the Office of Postsecondary Education.

• Higher Education Relief Institutional Funds Final Disclosure as of June 30, 2022
• Higher Education Relief Student Grant Disclosure as of June 30, 2022
• Higher Education Relief Student Grant Disclosure as of April 30, 2022
• Higher Education Relief Student Grant Disclosure as of March 31, 2022
• Higher Education Relief Institutional Funds Disclosure as of March 31, 2022
• Higher Education Relief (HEERF III) Student Grant Disclosure as of February 28, 2022
• Higher Education Relief (HEERF III) Student Grant Disclosure as of January 31, 2022
• Higher Education Relief Institutional Funds Final Disclosure as of December 31, 2021
• Higher Education Emergency Relief III Institutional Funds Disclosure as of December 31, 2021
• Higher Education Emergency Relief III Strengthening Institutions Program Disclosure as of December 31, 2021
• Higher Education Emergency Relief III Institutional Funds Disclosure as of September 30, 2021
• Higher Education Emergency Relief III Strengthening Institutions Program Disclosure as of September 30, 2021

• Higher Education Emergency Relief II Strengthening Institutions Program Final Disclosure as of March 31, 2021
• Higher Education Emergency Relief II Institutional Funds Final Disclosure as of March 31, 2021
• CARES Act Emergency Grants to Students Final Disclosure as of September 30, 2020
• Higher Education Relief Strengthening Institutions Program Final Disclosure as of September 30, 2020
• Higher Education Relief Institutional Funds Final Disclosure as of September 30, 2020
• Coronavirus Response & Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (HEERF II) Disclosure

Internships

Internships will move forward on an individual basis, either online or in-person, taking into account the public health conditions and the willingness of the internship site to continue to receive interns. Cathy Gowan will work with students on their specific internship.

Student Teaching

Student teaching will follow the guidance of the State Department of Education and individual school districts, keeping in mind public health conditions.

Converse has experienced higher infection rates in student-athletes than in the general student population in keeping with national data. To return to regular athletic practices and scheduling, we need our student-athletes to be vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccines.

The NCAA will continue to require regular testing for unvaccinated student-athletes. While Converse strives to continue offering free, on campus testing and vaccination clinics, Converse cannot guarantee that these services will always be available. Students who are not vaccinated and require testing to compete may be required to pay for their own testing to participate in athletics.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Web Page

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Symptoms of COVID-19

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/symptoms.html

S.C. Department of Mental Health

• https://scdmh.net/welcome/covid-19-resources/

CDC Travel Health Notices

• https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices

Coronavirus Cases in the United States Reported to CDC

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in-us.html

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

• https://scdhec.gov/covid19